We're taking a closer look at Airedale & Wharfedale Network: Leeds & Bradford - Skipton & Ilkley, one of three new core routes arriving with Train Sim World 7 on September 15th.
This is more than a single railway from A to B. Across a 54-mile network, modern Northern commuter services branch out from the busy cities of Leeds and Bradford towards Skipton and Ilkley, while LNER expresses and heavy quarry freight add even more variety to the rails.
Take a closer look at what's waiting for you in our Airedale & Wharfedale Network Showcase Trailer.
Airedale & Wharfedale Network was first revealed during Dovetail Direct: Summer 2026. Catch up on the original reveal and see the Yorkshire route in action below.
Rewatch the Airedale & Wharfedale deep dive from Dovetail Direct
Early access available THIS WEEK
The wait is nearly over!
Pre-order the Train Sim World 7 Deluxe or Ultimate Edition and you can start exploring Airedale & Wharfedale Network: Leeds & Bradford - Skipton & Ilkley from September 10th, five days ahead of the full Train Sim World 7 launch.
Take your first journeys across Yorkshire, get behind the controls of the new Northern fleet and start discovering everything the network has to offer.
Across the Yorkshire Network
Beginning in the heart of Leeds, the network spreads out across West Yorkshire, connecting the city with Bradford Forster Square, Skipton and Ilkley.
Across the route you'll encounter 19 detailed stations, ranging from major city hubs to smaller stops nestled among Yorkshire's towns and rolling countryside.
The network has been carrying passengers between Leeds and Bradford since the 1840s, later expanding towards Skipton and Ilkley to form the Airedale and Wharfedale Lines we know today.
In Train Sim World 7, that branching layout means your working day can constantly change. Services weave between different parts of the network, with train diagrams swapping routes throughout the day rather than simply repeating the same journey back and forth.
There's plenty beyond the passenger network too. Explore Neville Hill Depot, follow the freight-only branch towards Rylstone Quarry and head for Leeds Aggregate Terminal, making this one of Train Sim World's most varied modern British networks.
Meet the Northern Class 331
Making its Train Sim World debut is the Northern BR Class 331, bringing one of the modern faces of rail travel in the north of England to the game.
Both the Class 331/0 and 331/1 are included, putting Northern's modern electric fleet at the heart of commuter operations between Leeds, Bradford, Skipton and Ilkley.
Whether you're working into the busy platforms of Leeds or heading away from the city and deeper into the Yorkshire countryside, the network's varied service patterns mean you'll experience the Class 331 across multiple different journeys.
Our audio team were also able to work inside Neville Hill Depot, collaborating with Northern to capture authentic sounds and reference material for both the Class 331 and Class 333.
Neville Hill itself is represented on the route too, giving you the opportunity to explore the home of much of the railway's real-world rolling stock.
Express Yourself with the Azuma
Fancy something a little faster?
The LNER BR Class 801 Azuma is included with Airedale & Wharfedale Network, bringing long-distance express traffic into the mix alongside Northern's regular commuter operations.
Both the Class 801/1 and 801/2 are represented, with Azuma services calling at key locations across the network throughout the day.
The Class 801 has also received a number of updates for Train Sim World 7, including updated electric audio based on our work on the GWR Class 802, helping give the Azuma a refreshed sound as you accelerate across the network.
Passenger journeys benefit from additional attention to detail too. The Class 801 features genuine onboard LNER announcements captured from the real trains, while Northern services and stations across the route feature reproduced passenger and platform announcements to help bring the everyday sounds of the railway to life.
Switching from frequent Northern stopping services to the sleek Class 801 provides a very different perspective on the same railway and helps bring the busy rail scene around Leeds and West Yorkshire to life.
From the Quarry to Leeds
Passenger trains are only part of the story.
Take charge of the BR Class 66 and work full-length freight services along the network, including limestone traffic from Rylstone Quarry to Leeds Aggregate Terminal.
Joining the Class 66 is the all-new HYA Limestone Hopper, bringing new British freight rolling stock to Train Sim World and recreating the heavy aggregate traffic that forms an important part of the real railway.
Leave the main passenger network behind, head onto the dedicated Rylstone Quarry Branch and load up for the journey towards Leeds before threading your freight train between the day's commuter and long-distance services.
The route is also compatible with Freight Hauler, giving freight fans another way to make use of the network, quarry branch and freight infrastructure.
Deluxe Edition: Northern BR Class 333
One of Yorkshire's most recognisable commuter trains joins Train Sim World with the Northern BR Class 333.
A fixture of the Leeds rail scene for more than 20 years, the Class 333 has become synonymous with Airedale and Wharfedale services.
Originally introduced as 3-car units before being extended to four cars to provide extra capacity, the fleet has spent much of its working life carrying commuters between Leeds, Bradford, Skipton and Ilkley.
In Train Sim World 7, climb aboard the recently refurbished fleet and take in the view from its unmistakable fishbowl-style cab as you work alongside the newer Class 331 across all corners of the network.
Take on Skipton services, Bradford-bound duties and Ilkley locals, adding another generation of Northern traction to the timetable and even more variety to your working day.
Just like the Class 331, authentic audio for the Class 333 was captured with support from Northern at Neville Hill Depot, helping recreate the distinctive character of this long-serving Yorkshire unit.
The Northern BR Class 333 EMU Add-On is included with Train Sim World 7 Deluxe and Ultimate Editions and will also be available to purchase separately.
For the full Class 333 timetable experience, we recommend experiencing it with Airedale & Wharfedale Network.
Exploring Airedale & Wharfedale
There's plenty waiting for you once you head onto the network.
The core route includes 5 Scenarios, introducing you to the different trains, branches and styles of operation found across Airedale & Wharfedale. These go beyond straightforward passenger runs, with scenarios built around diversions, technical problems, unusual stopping patterns and freight challenges that encourage you to explore different parts of the railway.
Players with the Train Sim World 7 Deluxe or Ultimate Edition can take on a further 3 Scenarios with the Northern Class 333, bringing the total to 8 Scenarios across the core route and Deluxe locomotive. These additional scenarios put even more focus on the Class 333 and include opportunities to experience depot-based operations and less conventional railway duties.
Beyond these curated experiences, Timetable Mode recreates the everyday rhythm of the railway with 260 playable services and 36 AI services included in the base route.
Northern forms the backbone of the timetable, with services operating across five main patterns linking Leeds, Bradford Forster Square, Skipton and Ilkley. Importantly, trains don't simply run one route back and forth all day. Their diagrams can move between different service patterns, so sticking with the same unit over several journeys can take you across multiple branches of the network.
The timetable also brings together very different types of operation on the same railway. Alongside Northern commuter services you'll encounter LNER express traffic, empty coaching stock movements, activity around Neville Hill Depot and a complete modern aggregate freight flow making use of the route's freight-only branches.
Add the Class 333 and the timetable grows to around 360 playable and 84 AI services across the route.
Whether you want a short commuter run, a journey that takes you across several branches, an LNER express service, depot activity or a heavier freight working from Rylstone Quarry, there's plenty of opportunity to find your preferred way to experience the network.
And if you've already built up a British Train Sim World collection, there's even more waiting for you.
Expand Your Yorkshire Network
Compatible Add-ons can introduce even more trains, services and railway activity across Airedale & Wharfedale.
Owners of compatible content can add:
Northern BR Class 333 services with the Train Sim World 7 Deluxe locomotive
Northern BR Class 158 services with the upcoming compatible locomotive
Keighley & Worth Valley Railway activity at Keighley
Freightliner BR Class 70 services across the route when released
Additional railtours, Rail Head Treatment Trains, freight traffic, depot movements and further substitutions from your collection
The additional layers have been designed to add different types of railway activity rather than simply increasing the number of trains on screen.
Compatible content can introduce everything from heritage and special railtour traffic to additional freight workings, engineering movements and depot activity. Some layers also add extra life around locations such as Leeds, Skipton, Keighley and Neville Hill, making the network feel busier and more varied as your collection grows.
There's some fun variety in the mix too, with historic locomotives able to appear on special workings alongside modern Northern and LNER traffic, creating the kind of mixed railway scene that enthusiasts might encounter during special events or railtour days.
The timetable has also been built with the future in mind. Support is already included for upcoming releases such as the Northern BR Class 158 and Freightliner BR Class 70, meaning those services will become available once the corresponding Add-ons are owned.
Each additional layer requires the corresponding Add-on, available separately.
Catch a Preview of Airedale & Wharfedale Live!
Ready to explore Yorkshire for yourself?
Join community manager Harry, executive producer Matt, developer Liam and Tyler from Rivet games on September 8th at 18:00 UTC / 19:00 BST for our Airedale & Wharfedale Network preview livestream.
We'll be exploring the different branches of the network, getting behind the controls of the new Northern Class 331 and showing how commuter, express and freight traffic come together across the route.
We'll also take a closer look at the Northern Class 333, showcasing the Deluxe locomotive and how it expands the timetable alongside the Class 331.
On top of that, we'll be exploring two of Train Sim World 7's new features in action: Simple Controls, designed to make getting moving easier than ever, and Live Weather, bringing current real-world conditions into your journey. Given the Yorkshire setting, you may want to expect a little rain!
Watch live on the official Train Sim World YouTube and Twitch channels.
See the updated graphics for yourself!
Train Sim World 7 brings a range of visual improvements designed to make every journey feel more immersive.
From richer lighting and improved environments to enhanced detail across the world around you, our new Graphical Comparison Video puts Train Sim World 7 side-by-side with Train Sim World 6 so you can see the differences for yourself.
Pre-order Train Sim World 7
Airedale & Wharfedale Network: Leeds & Bradford - Skipton & Ilkley is included with the Standard, Deluxe and Ultimate Editions of Train Sim World 7, launching on September 15th.
Pre-order now to receive a 10% discount on participating platforms.
Pre-order the Deluxe or Ultimate Edition and you'll also receive 5 days of Early Access, allowing you to start your Train Sim World 7 journey from September 10th.
Head for the Yorkshire hills and Find Your Way in Train Sim World 7.
Train Sim World 7 is only available on PC and Gen-9 console platforms.
Join us in the Community!
It's never been a more exciting time to be jumping into Train Sim World, with a huge thriving ecosystem of new content coming from our teams, and a community growing faster than ever. Be sure to get involved if you're interesting in community-made PC Editor content, screenshot competitions, sharing video content curated by our Dovetail ambassadors and online influencers, and sharing what makes the rails special to you.
We're so excited to keep sharing more, and taking you on the journey with us. Make sure you’re joining our teams on our Dovetail Live forums, our official Discord, and community-led spaces that we are active in – let us know what you’re looking forward to most!
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